Waking up and staring at a grid of letters can feel like a chore if the theme is too obscure. Honestly, we've all had those days where the NYT Strands hint feels like it's written in a cryptic language nobody actually speaks. But today? Today is different. If you've ever spent a Saturday afternoon watching highlights or maybe just played a game of horse in your driveway, you’re going to find this one significantly easier than last week’s head-scratchers.
The NYT Strands hints December 9 point toward a theme that is high-energy, physical, and distinctly American. We are moving away from the abstract concepts of "feelings" or "things that are blue" and stepping onto the hardwood.
What’s the Vibe for December 9?
The official theme provided by the New York Times today is "On the court." Now, when you hear that, your brain might jump to a few places. Is it a legal drama? Are we looking for "bailiff" or "defendant"? Or maybe it's a romantic thing—"courting" someone?
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Actually, it's much more literal than that. We are talking about sports. Specifically, a sport played with a round orange ball and ten very tall people running back and forth. If you can picture the squeak of sneakers on a polished floor, you’re already halfway to solving this.
A Little Help Without Giving it Away
If you just want a tiny nudge to get your momentum going, look for words that describe how a player moves. You aren't just running; you're doing something specific with the ball. You aren't just standing there; you're preventing the other team from scoring.
The board today (Game #646) is laid out in a way that feels very "active." You’ll find that the words aren't just stuck in corners; they weave around each other like a complex play being run during the fourth quarter.
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Quick Clues to Spark Your Brain
- The Spangram: It’s the name of the sport itself. It’s 10 letters long and stretches horizontally across the middle of the grid.
- A Defensive Move: Think about what happens when you swat a shot away.
- A High-Flying Score: This one is only four letters and involves a lot of rim-rattling force.
- The Basic Movement: You can’t move without doing this to the ball.
The NYT Strands Hints December 9: Step-by-Step
Sometimes you just need to see the first few letters to unlock the whole grid. I get it. Here is the breakdown of the starting letters for each theme word in today’s puzzle.
- RE... (7 letters) - What happens when you grab the ball after a missed shot.
- BL... (5 letters) - Stopping a shot in its tracks.
- JU... (4 letters) - A type of "shot" or just leaving the ground.
- DU... (4 letters) - The most exciting way to score.
- SC... (6 letters) - Standing in the way to help your teammate get open.
- GU... (5 letters) - A position on the team or what you do on defense.
- DR... (7 letters) - Bouncing the ball repeatedly.
The Big Reveal: The Spangram
If you are still hunting for that yellow highlight, the spangram today is BASKETBALL. It starts with the 'B' on the left side (about halfway down) and snakes its way across to the right. Once you find this, the rest of the board opens up like a wide-open fast break.
Why This Puzzle Works
Some players on Reddit mentioned today’s puzzle felt "too easy." I kind of disagree. While the vocabulary is familiar, the way the words like DRIBBLE and REBOUND twist through the grid is actually pretty clever.
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Strands is a game of spatial awareness. Even if you know the word "Screen," finding it when the letters are zig-zagging is a different story. It’s a great example of how the New York Times keeps these games fresh—even when the theme is straightforward, the execution keeps your brain engaged.
The Full Answer List
If you're completely stuck or just want to check your work, here are the eight words included in the December 9 puzzle:
- REBOUND
- BLOCK
- BASKETBALL (Spangram)
- JUMP
- DUNK
- SCREEN
- GUARD
- DRIBBLE
Mastering Future Strands Puzzles
If today’s puzzle gave you a bit of trouble, remember that the "hint" system is your friend. You don't lose points for using it. You just need to find three "non-theme" words (any word 4 letters or longer that isn't on the list) to earn a hint.
A good strategy for any Strands game is to look for common suffixes like "-ING" or "-ED," though today's sports-heavy list didn't rely on those as much. Instead, it focused on "crunchy" consonants like B, K, and G.
For your next game, try to find the Spangram first. It literally divides the board in half, which makes the remaining "pockets" of letters much smaller and easier to scan.
The best way to stay sharp is to keep playing the daily rotation. If you finished today's Strands quickly, you might want to try the NYT Connections or the Mini Crossword to keep that cognitive momentum going. Check back tomorrow for the next breakdown!
Actionable Tips for Tomorrow
- Start in the Corners: Usually, the shorter 4-letter words are tucked into the corners.
- Identify the Spangram Early: It’s the backbone of the grid.
- Look for "Z" and "X": If you see rare letters, they are almost certainly part of a theme word.